Dibaba falls short in title bid

Ethiopia's Tirunesh Dibaba failed to collect a fourth World Cross Country title after being run out of the medals in Poland.

Dibaba, whose last victory came in Edinburgh two years ago, was unable to master the muddy conditions in Bydgodszcz and had to settle for fourth place as Kenyan duo Emily Chebet and Linet Masai dominated the race.

Chebet edged Masai into second place for the second successive year by one second, with Meselech Melkamu of Ethiopia finishing third.

Kenya also won the team competition ahead of Ethiopia with the United States finishing third.

Former European junior champion Stephanie Twell (23rd) led the British team to sixth place with the backing of Faye Fullerton (33rd), Freya Murray (37th) and Stevie Stockton (47th).

Joseph Ebuya's strength also clinched the men's gold medal for Kenya as he brushed aside the challenge of Eritrea's Teklemariam Medhin by six seconds, with Moses Kipsiro of Uganda a distant third.

Kenya also collected top team honours well clear of Eritrea and Ethiopia, with the British men finishing 14th.

Mo Farah, returning to international action after a bout of illness, had to settle for 21st.

Andy Vernon (44th), Mike Skinner (65th) and James Wilkinson (107th) were the other scorers.

The British junior men and women's sides finished fifth and ninth respectively and were the first European squads across the line as Kenya, Ethiopia and Uganda took the podium places in both races.